As the dust has settled on Manchester United’s 3-0 victory versus Everton on Sunday afternoon, it is pertinent to highlight that three of United’s successful 2022 Youth Cup team were in the matchday squad.

Two of said players made massive contributions to the result and look to be two of the most promising stories of the season to follow from a Man United fan’s perspective.

Alejandro Garnacho scored “the best overhead kick ever” according to some, which crucially broke the deadlock in the third minute.

Another player from the starting line-up of the victorious Youth Cup side, Kobbie Mainoo, had pundits waxing lyrical over the 18 year olds afternoon’s work. Ian Wright claimed he just thought “wow” and the notoriously hard to impress, Roy Keane, even effused that it was challenging not to get excited about the midfielder’s full debut.

The third was striker Joe Hugill, who made the bench due to an injury to Rasmus Hojlund. The youngster didn’t get the chance to make an impression on the pitch, but after scoring in United’s pre-season tour, the attacker will hope to be get more opportunities in the first team.

Manchester United’s youth team won the coveted Youth Cup final in May 2022 at Old Trafford versus Nottingham Forest. Rhys Bennett and a double from Alejandro Garnacho saw the Red Devils win 3-1 on the night and claim the silverware. It would be a record extending 11th time the club has won the trophy and the first time since a Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard inspired triumph in 2011.

The Old Trafford outfit has a proud history of blooding youngsters and the academy has educated some of the finest players to play the game. United’s commitment to youth can be seen in their unmatched record of naming an academy graduate in every squad since the 30th of October 1937.

In fact, four academy-grown players started the game, including Marcus Rashford and Scott McTominay. Another, Hannibal Mejbri was on the bench, hence six in total to add to the names of Garnacho, Mainoo and Hugill, were in the squad.

Additionally, four more players in the matchday 18 may not have been part of the Man United youth system but were signed for the first team as teenagers. They are Anthony Martial, Luke Shaw, Diogo Dalot and Facundo Pellistri.

In fact, to highlight the production power of the youth system at the club, two of Everton’s starters and one bench option also came through the ranks at United. James Garner, Dwight McNeil and former Youth Cup winner, Michael Keane.

There has been criticism of late of the team and their movement away from using the academy. Erik ten Hag has splashed the cash since his arrival in May 2022. The Dutch coach has spent £407m on new signings and has been critiqued here for abandoning players like James Garner far too early to fund moves for lesser players from other team’s academies.

Nonetheless, Sunday’s game provided a road map forward. The roles of Mainoo and Garnacho demonstrate that the youth system at United is still working and if used, can still be a vital characteristic of the side. Whilst, splurging on talent is necessary to reach the top, opportunities should still be given to the very best of the academy. It is in the club’s DNA.

Finally, with the under 18 team in scintillating form and huge talents like 16 year old Shea Lacey at the club, there is much to be excited about. If not left to rot, the youth system will continue to flourish and produce talents for the first team, like it always has since 1937.

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United are set to take on Sean Dyche’s aggrieved men, who were subjected to a 10-point deduction by the Premier League, at 16:30 BST.

Heading into the game, Erik ten Hag will be boosted by the return of Luke Shaw who has been sidelined for weeks with an injury.

During his pre-game presser, Ten Hag confirmed that the English left-back will be fit enough to be in contention.

Marcus Rashford and Andre Onana are also expected to start after the pair seemed to pick up injuries during the international break.

Players who are definitely ruled out of action include Lisandro Martinez, Jonny Evans, Tyrell Malacia, Amad Diallo, Mason Mount and Christian Eriksen.

Rasmus Hojlund is facing a race against time to be fit enough for the clash at Goodison Park.

According to The Manchester Evening News, amidst the club’s ongoing injury crisis, Ten Hag has moved to offset the high number of absences by including academy players in the travelling contingent making its way to Merseyside.

Samuel Luckhurst reports, “Manchester United have had to draft youngsters into their squad for today’s vital Premier League fixture at Everton.”

“It is understood a few academy players have been added to the travelling squad and striker Joe Hugill could be included in a matchday squad for the first time amid the club’s ongoing injury crisis.”

“The academy players had been given a day off but were frantically contacted to report for possible first-team participation at the 11th hour.”

MEN adds that the most likely scenario is Hugill will have a place on the bench.

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United took an early lead at Leigh Sports Village in just the 7th minute through Joe Hugill.

Isak Hansen-Aaroen took out the Everton defender with a perfectly weighted through ball to Sam Murray racing towards the byline to cut back for Hugill to slot home from six yards out.

The young Reds doubled their lead on the half hour mark with a clever free kick from Shola Shoretire.

After being fouled on the edge of the box, Shoretire stepped up to cleverly roll a shot under the jumping Everton wall and into the bottom left corner.

Hansen-Aaroen had a chance to make it three just before the break, but the young midfielder could not keep his curled effort on target.

It went into the break 2-0 to United with Travis Binnion’s side controlling much of the first half.

Everton pulled one back early into the second half though. A counter attack opened the chance for Sean McAllister to get down the right wing and float a misguided cross straight into the back of Elyh Harrison’s goal.

United restored their two goal lead in the 79th minute when Hugill added his second of the match and seventh on the season.

United’s high press paid off and Mateo Mejia was able to win possession high up the pitch to quickly play Hugill into the box to finish low from a wide angle.

Hugill’s brace was enough to secure the three points for United and move them up to 10th in the table and securely in a play-off qualification spot.

United: Harrison, Nolan (Kambwala 62), Aljofree, Murray, Bennett, Shoretire, Collyer, Hansen-Aaroen (Huddlestone 73), Mejia, Hugill, Ennis (Mather 46)

Unused subs: Wooster, Curley

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Erik ten Hag’s arrival at United last summer saw greater emphasis placed on the academy and youth stars after years of neglect under his predecessors.

Ten Hag has more than made it clear only the best young talents will get a chance under him.

This has been seen by the exits of multiple Carrington products such as Zidane Iqbal, Noam Emeran, Ethan Galbraith and Teden Mengi just to mention a few.

Players like Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo have broken into the first team under Ten Hag.

The Daily Mail reports that multiple coaches have been let go as the overhaul of the academy carries on.

“United have had a mini clear-out of their academy, axing a total of five coaches. United Confidential understands that Jim Skeldon, Brian Mcfarlane, Dave Bailey, Ronnie Cusick and Gavin Oliver have all gone.”

“United sources confirmed that a ‘small number’ of coaches have left the club which was part of a wider restructure to enhance the academy’s recruitment work, and it was the right time to freshen things up.”

Chris Wheeler also reveals that 19-year-old Joe Hugill has agreed to sign a new contract at United after impressing Ten Hag.

It’s understood that Hugill is set to formally sign a new three-year deal with the option of extending by an extra 12 months.

The Red Devils rebuffed multiple offers for Hugill from interested parties in the Championship.

Sunderland who sold the player to United in 2020 are expected to come in for their former star in January.

The goalscorer will continue training with the senior squad while playing for the U-21 team.

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However, that did not go as planned and instead, they were forced to sell academy starlets who were not in manager Erik ten Hag’s immediate plans going forward.

Stars such as Zidane Iqbal, Charlie Savage, Matej Kovar, Anthony Elanga, and Marc Jurado just to name a few were among those to leave the club permanently.

Hugill needs first-team football

Several also left on loan including promising academy striker Charlie McNeill while quite a few are champing at the bit to experience regular first-team football.

The Peoples Person had reported about Isak Hansen-Aarøen looking at a loan exit in January and now it seems yet another academy prodigy is set to follow suit.

Joe Hugill, who has definitely outgrown age-group level football, is being eyed by former club Sunderland for a January loan spell.

The 6ft 2in striker’s remarkable goalscoring exploits for Sunderland’s academy team, including him playing for their U23s at the age of 16, prompted United to go after him in the first place.

He had reportedly attracted interest from Arsenal, Tottenham, Wolves and Leeds before securing a move to Old Trafford.

This news comes from The Sun journalist Alan Nixon who wrote on his Patreon account and also mentioned that the move will not be straightforward due to interest from several other EFL clubs.

The report mentioned that other clubs are more in need of a target man than the team from Tyne and Wear but due to the player’s connection with Sunderland, a move there is more likely.

Sunderland and others targeting Hugill loan

There was plenty of interest in the 19-year-old during the summer as well, but with McNeill already going out, the club decided to keep Hugill for the time being.

He was on the scoresheet for United in their first pre-season game against Leeds United but is yet to make a first-team appearance.

Hugill has been prolific for the academy, scoring 46 goals for United’s various age group teams since his €330k move from the Black Cats back in 2020.

He spent time out on loan at National League club Altrincham for half a season earlier this year and a move to a Championship club could be just the step required for the prolific striker to show his mettle.

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13 days to make the necessary adjustments to remedy a poor start. 13 days to implement tactical changes which will improve the team’s performance. 13 days to regain and rally the spirit which was carefully cultivated last season.

13 days to fix United’s season essentially.

Over these 13 days, The Peoples Person team are looking at 13 areas United can look to improve upon before their next Premier League fixture. An article a day until Erik ten Hag’s issues have drifted away.

Today’s focus is on shooting and, specifically, getting United’s forwards firing. Last season, Benni McCarthy won a lot of plaudits as United’s top attacking coach, but he would do well to turn up at Old Trafford in disguise this season as his forward line lunges from one disaster to another.

Marcus Rashford’s goal against Arsenal was the first by any United forward in four Premier League matches. This simply is not good enough if United want to be serious contenders for a top four position.

Whatever other reasons there might be – and service, or lack thereof, is certainly one of them – the Red Devils have not converted their chances. Expected goals (XG) of 2.21 against Wolves versus one goal actually scored (not by a forward) and 2.07 against Spurs with zero goals scored showed the degree of misfiring.

United’s forwards are simply not clinical enough, with the exception perhaps of Rashford, and even he can be guilty of poor decision making for the final ball.

To the naked eye, part of the problem is that players can be too greedy. Antony, Garnacho and Rashford himself will tend to overlook a pass to a colleague in space in favour of taking on a shot.

Another issue is a lack of bodies in the box on the counter. When United do break, the player often opts to take the shot simply because not enough teammates have got into a good enough position to take the pass.

This was an issue last season and one that perhaps spurred Erik ten Hag to acquire the services of Mason Mount, who is more able than Christian Eriksen to make swift and decisive runs from deep to provide the extra man in attack.

It started off well, with the former Chelsea man getting into a great position against Wolves before missing a sitter. However, he could not build on that and subsequently got injured after two games.

The other missing piece of the puzzle is having a natural predator in the box. Ten Hag sees potential in Rasmus Hojlund to fulfil that role but it is a lot to ask of a 20 year old starting his first season in the Premier League. Coming up through the ranks at 19 is Joe Hugill, who is also that exact type of player, but whether he can make the step up – and if so, when, remains to be seen. The future looks bright, but how long can we wait?

Simply put, whatever Ten Hag decides to do to get his forwards scoring, he needs to do it fast.

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A week after a remarkable 10-1 victory over Stoke City, United’s u21s looked set for another goal show when Joe Hugill opened the scoring in the first minute against his former club.

United doubled the lead in the 15th minute after winning possession high up the pitch, Mateo Mejia passed to Shola Shoretire to finish past former United keeper Nathan Bishop.

Another mishap at the back for Sunderland gifted Hugill his second of the match when he pounced on a short pass back before dinking the ball over the keeper to make it 0-3 in the 34th minute.

Seconds before the half time whistle, United countered with Omari Forson who played through Shoretire to round past Bishop and slot into the net to give United a four goal lead going into the break.

The second half started when the first left off with Forson cutting in from the right and firing low from the edge of the box to make it five.

With the match expectedly out of reach, Sunderland didn’t give up and pulled one back through a long-range effort that rebounded straight to the feet of Harry Gardiner who was able to finish past Elyh Harrison.

Just two minutes later, Sunderland scored another when Harrison Jones sent a spectacular effort flying into the top corner from the edge of the box.

United had lost their head allowing for Sunderland to score a third in less than five minutes. Sunderland got to the by-line and crossed low for Michael Spellman to apply the finish.

Travis Binnion looked to the bench to turn the tide including a forced change in goal with Harrison exiting for Dermot Mee.

The new keeper couldn’t keep the door closed though as Sunderland added another in the 72nd minute. A one touch finish from Tom Chiabi outside the box rocketed into the top corner.

Holding onto the remaining one goal lead until the 9th minute of injury time, United’s youngsters couldn’t make it to the whistle and with the last kick of the game Sunderland equalised. Jewison Bennette picked up the ball on the right side and cut in onto his left foot and before firing home.

Letting a five goal lead slip was certain to have left manager Travis Binnion angry and with three weeks until the next match, there will be plenty of time to go over it on the training ground.

United: Harrison (Mee 64), Ogunneye, Aljofree, Kambwala, Nolan, Oyedele, Hansen-Aaroen, Forson (Williams 68), Mejia, Shoretire (Jackson 78), Hugill

Unused subs: Mather, Moorhouse

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Erik ten Hag believes Hugill is best placed at United to continue his development rather than first-team experience further down the footballing pyramid.

The Athletic contends there was “lots of interest” in the striker from across League One.

Carlisle are described as the side which came closest to securing Hugill’s services, but Old Trafford officials did not sanction the move.

Darren Fletcher, United’s Technical Director, rates Hugill highly and agreed with Ten Hag his immediate future should be in Manchester. Hugill will be able to continue training with the first team as well as regularly playing for the U-21s.

The club will then evaluate the situation in January, suggesting a short-term loan could be an option after Christmas if the striker is progressing well.

Hugill joined United from Sunderland in 2020 and quickly established himself as one of the best players in his age bracket.

The striker was even publicly acknowledged by Ole Gunnar Solskjær following an imperious performance against Liverpool U-23s in February 2021.

Hugill scored four goals as United beat their bitter rivals 6-3 in a thrilling game. It was also Amad Diallo’s first taste of life in English football, with the Ivorian scoring two in the match.

Talks have been ongoing over a new contract with Hugill said to be close to agreeing a new three-year deal, with the option of an extra year.

Hugill impressed during United’s pre-season, scoring in the 2-0 win against Leeds and remaining with the senior squad for the main leg of the tour.

It is clear the striker is highly-rated by his manager and the rest of the coaching staff, with a clear plan in place for Hugill to continue his development at the club.

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The match started at a high end-to-end intensity. An early break started with Dan Gore turning and showing a great turn of pace to burst through the Stockport midfield and charge 50 yards before overrunning the ball.

In the 6th minute, Stockport’s Josh Popoola skipped past James Nolan and hit a low across the box which was blocked up and looped over the crowd towards the back post but bounced narrowly wide as United let out a sigh of relief.

It looked like it was going to be a long night for Nolan as minutes later Popoola was darting inside to get on the end of a through ball that sent him clear through on goal but Elyh Harrison was out quick to cut off the angles and make a save and Popoola couldn’t direct his second effort from the rebound on target.

But after the opening 10 minutes, the proceedings slowed down and the next chance didn’t come until the 20th minute when Gore dribbled past two Stockport players into the box and cut back for Mateo Mejia who mishit and sent the ball spinning wide.

The remainder of the first half provided little to remember as both sides failed to put together their passes in the final third and the match went into the break at 0-0.

The tackles started to fly in the second half from Stockport and 19-year-old Cody Johnson was lucky to stay on the pitch after a high challenge on Habeeb Ogunneye left the United defender down clutching his leg.

A rare shot on target came in the 61st minute when Stockport had a low effort from 25 yards out that called Harrison into action for the first time.

Just a couple of minutes later, Willy Kambwala’s through ball put substitute Ethan Williams in behind to run through and a slight touch on his back caused the United winger to stumble through the box before going down and winning United a soft penalty.

Joe Hugill stepped up to take and had his shot to the left denied before slotting home the rebound to give United a 0-1 lead.

Joe Hugill’s goal in tonight’s EFL Trophy match with Stockport County #MUFC pic.twitter.com/73Pnfj6SXj

— Manchester United Academy (@RedYouthUnited) August 22, 2023

In the 73rd minute, the best passage of play in the match saw United keeping control of possession in the left corner before Shola Shoretire ultimately cut back to Williams in the box who smashed his shot off the crossbar.

Stockport’s late challenges then proved costly as Ryan Croasdale saw a second yellow for a challenge in the middle of the park.

The home side were lucky not to see another red card 10 minutes later when veteran Neill Byrne took a wild swing before jumping into Nolan with his studs up.

The fourth official showed for 11 minutes of added time and it proved to be the most exciting spell of the match.

Shoretire kickstarted a counterattack before finding Ethan Wheatley at the edge of the box who laid off to Charlie McNeill who scuffed his shot well wide with a poor effort.

Shoretire was then leading the charge again with a counter from Stockport corner, this time he threaded the needle to find Wheatley in the box but the striker lost his footing as he controlled the ball and couldn’t even get a shot away in the end.

The missed chances proved to be fatal as in the 11th minute of injury time, Stockport were awarded a penalty for a challenge by Harrison deemed to be a foul and scored from the penalty spot.

As per EFL Trophy rules, matches ending in a draw go to penalties with the winner awarded two points and the loser one point.

A perfect set of penalties from McNeill, Shoretire, Nolan, Williams, and Wheatley saw United leave victorious with a 3-5 win.

United’s next match in the competition comes at the end of September away to Bolton Wanderers.

United: Harrison, Ogunneye, Kambwala, Aljofree, Nolan, Collyer (Williams 60), Gore, Mejia (Wheatley 89), Oyedele, Shoretire, Hugill (McNeill 81)

Unused subs: Mee, McAllister, Jackson, Mather

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The Brazilian, who played the second-half against Olympique Lyon on Wednesday, is reportedly staying back because of personal reasons.

A few promising academy stars have also made the cut. While it was expected that Hannibal Mejbri and Kobbie Mainoo would make the cut, Dan Gore was also selected after a brilliant display against the Ligue 1 side.

Notable absentees

There were also call ups for Omari Forson on the wings and Radek Vitek in goal. Surprisingly, quite a few fancied academy starlets failed to make the cut.

The biggest shock was the exclusion of Matej Kovar from the goalkeeping contingent. The 23-year-old played the full 90 minutes against Lyon and the second-half against Leeds United.

Both the goalscorers from the Leeds game — Noam Emeran and Joe Hugill missed out as did Isak Hansen-Aarøen, Charlie Savage and Charlie McNeill to name a few.

Short-term signing Jonny Evans also was not part of the squad but he was supposed to be part of the academy team that will take on Wrexham in San Diego.

This might mean that a separate squad gets announced for that particular tie at a later date. All the youngsters who missed out could be part of that particular team.

While it is not a major cause for concern for most youngsters who will still get to play infront of a large crowd against a competitive Wrexham side, this snub could have major ramifications for some.

Permanent and temporary moves in the pipeline

Kovar, who spent last season out on loan, would have expected to be part of the main squad after his passing display from the back which indicated he could be ready for a reserve goalkeeper role.

Now this could mean either a loan back to Sparta Prague or a permanent exit with the Czech champions said to be impatiently waiting for United’s answer.

McNeill has also been linked with a loan exit to League One while Charlie Savage could also be on his way, either temporarily or on loan depending on the offers that come in.

Noam Emeran is reportedly receiving plenty of loan interest from European clubs and this could indicate his future could lie away from Old Trafford for now.

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